Oct09

Missing Justice organized and took part in the 4th Annual Sisters in Spirit Vigil in Montreal on October 4th, the 7-year anniversary of the death of Gladys Tolley. The annual day of action was started by Gladys’ daughter, Bridget Tolley and has become a national demonstration. In it’s inaugural year 11 communities across the country took part. This year, 72 communities took part. This year was the first that Montreal held a March as well as a Vigil. Whereas the aim of the March is to raise awareness, and to draw attention to government inaction and complicity in the problem of missing and murdered Indigenous women, as well as to make the demands themselves loud and clear, the Vigil portion is to remember the hundreds (or thousands, depending who you’re talking to), of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, and to pay respect. Over 250 people came out to march in the post-rain...

With Melanie Morrison from Kahnawke, Kary Ann Deer, of PAQ and QNW, Craig Benjamin, of Amnesty International, and Yasmin Jiwani, from Concordia University. Listen to Audio Here Kary Ann Deer, of Projet Autochtones du Quebec Melanie Morrison, sister of Tiffany Morrison who went missing 3 years ago from Kahnawake. Yasmin Jiwani, former researcher and coordinator of the BC Yukon FREDA Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children Craig Benjamin, Amnesty...

Sisters in Spirit March & Vigil Sunday, October 4th, 6pm Cabot Square (Atwater and St. Catherine) The 4th annual SIS March & Vigil will take place in communities across the country, including Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal. It is a national day of remembrance, respect, and demands for government action. Marchers will assemble at Cabot Square, and proceed east down St. Catherine Street to Phillips Square (across the street from The Bay) for a candlelight Vigil. Speakers will include president of Quebec Native Women, Ellen Gabriel, Cheryl Diabo of the Mohawk Traditional Council in Kahnawake, and others. There will also be drumming by Odaya and Tiohtiake Singers. For more information, or to get involved, email us at justiceformissing@gmail.com, or visit...

***Please forward widely*** Hello all! We hope you had a great summer and are now ready for the leaves to fall. Missing Justice has had an eventful summer, and we have numerous other projects underway. Two important upcoming events: Missing Justice Panel Discussion Friday, October 2nd, 4pm De Seve Cinema, Concordia University, J.W. McConnell Building (Library), local LB-125, 1400 De Maisonneuve West With: Laurie Odjick from Kitigan Zibi (mother of Maisy Odjick, missing 1 year), Melanie Morrison from Kahnawake (sister of Tiffany Morrison, missing 3 years), Craig Benjamin, Campaigner for Indigenous Rights with Amnesty International, Yasmin Jiwani, professor in Communication Studies at Concordia, and former researcher and coordinator of the BC Yukon FREDA Centre for Research on Violence against Women and Children, and Kary Ann Deer, member of the Board of Directors of Projets Autochtones du Quebec. This popular education event will discuss the root causes of violence against Indigenous women and girls and explore the deeply systemic, racist and sexist nature of this problem. Jurisdictional and other issues with policing will be explored, government inaction, and issues of poverty and dispossession which contribute to the vulnerability of Indigenous women. Panelists will also speak to their own experiences with their loved ones’ cases. Although there have been 521 official cases of missing and murdered Indigenous women in Canada since 1980, many activists say the number is much higher. Sisters in Spirit March & Vigil Sunday, October 4th, 6pm Cabot Square (Atwater and St. Catherine) The 4th annual SIS March & Vigil will take place in communities across the country, including Ottawa, Edmonton and Montreal. It is a national day of remembrance, respect, and demands for government action. Marchers will assemble at Cabot Square, and proceed east down St. Catherine Street to Phillips Square (across the street from The Bay) for a candlelight Vigil. Speakers will include president of Quebec Native Women, Ellen Gabriel, Cheryl Diabo of the Mohawk Traditional Council in Kahnawake, and others. There will also be drumming by Odaya and Tiohtiake Singers. For more information, or to get involved, email us at justiceformissing@gmail.com, or visit missingjustice.ca....